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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 10:39:00

Title: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 10:39:00
I know that some people here aren't keen on speed tests as such but I've just done the test at ThinkBroadband so that I could do the monthly ISP rating. I got a result of 5988.99 Kbps this surprised me as I'd just previously done a BT test and got a result of 6803 Kbps, I'd gone straight from one test to the other. The only consolation is that I presume that the apparent reduction in speed would apply to all persons rating their ISP via the speed test. I would have assumed that the BT was more reliable but is that so? 
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 10:51:56
Speed tests can vary but I find the BT speed tester more reliable Noreen to be honest, some of the others appear to give wildly different readings :-\
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 10:54:40
can i ask if anyone was having speed issues yesterday? i haven't tested it today as i am now at work but my browsing was taking ages to load and my speedtests were showing my download speed as 1 meg :o(

1st problem i've had with speeds since joining. hope its all ok. my router stats are exactly the same i posted in another thread. i'll try and find it.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 11:00:13
Yes Gary, I'd also done a Speedtest.net test and as usual it was even faster than BT. It seems unfortunate that ThinkBroadband's slower test results are involved in their ISP rating system. 
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 11:04:07
Quote from: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 11:00:13
Yes Gary, I'd also done a Speedtest.net test and as usual it was even faster than BT. It seems unfortunate that ThinkBroadband's slower test results are involved in their ISP rating system. 
I wonder if there is a bias involved their somehow Noreen ::)
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 11:05:12
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 10:54:40
can i ask if anyone was having speed issues yesterday? i haven't tested it today as i am now at work but my browsing was taking ages to load and my speedtests were showing my download speed as 1 meg :o(

1st problem i've had with speeds since joining. hope its all ok. my router stats are exactly the same i posted in another thread. i'll try and find it.
No issues here at all, have you had a sync event maybe, or loss of power that may cause the line to see an issue?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 11:09:35
Quote from: Killhippie on Jan 03, 2008, 11:04:07
I wonder if there is a bias involved their somehow Noreen ::)
Are you confusing them with DSL ZoneUK Gary? ;D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Inactive on Jan 03, 2008, 11:12:28
Quote from: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 11:09:35
Are you confusing them with DSL ZoneUK Gary? ;D

You wouldn't be suggesting that DSL Zone is biased Noreen??  ;D ;D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 11:12:50
Quote from: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 11:09:35
Are you confusing them with DSL ZoneUK Gary? ;D
:D I never trust any site Noreen that says its not biased  ;) but I may have been
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 11:30:51
Quote from: Killhippie on Jan 03, 2008, 11:05:12
No issues here at all, have you had a sync event maybe, or loss of power that may cause the line to see an issue?

not sure, i changed to homesupermax about a week ago and everything was fine. tried reseting my router and turning it off for 30 seconds but no joy.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 11:41:57
I've not seen any speed issues, and with IDNet back in the office yesterday, I'm sure we would have heard of any problems. Like Gary, I think you need to look for any local issues, running a BT speed test would be a good starting place.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Ann on Jan 03, 2008, 11:59:12
Mine was just now 6552 with BT and 6490 with thinkbroadband so not much different.  Probably just a blip for Noreen.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Simon on Jan 03, 2008, 12:00:08
Perhaps any speed issues were due to IDNet catching up on all their emails!  ;D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:04:40
i tried that rik but i can never get it to work. runs the speed test but the bar gets not even a quater the way across and nothing happens. i check back about 30mins later but its still the same.

i live in a flat and my niegbours upstairs have been banging around and hammering. bit of a long shot but do you think they've nicked a wire somewhere?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 12:13:08
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:04:40
i tried that rik but i can never get it to work. runs the speed test but the bar gets not even a quater the way across and nothing happens. i check back about 30mins later but its still the same.

i live in a flat and my niegbours upstairs have been banging around and hammering. bit of a long shot but do you think they've nicked a wire somewhere?
Do you use firefox or IE for that test? I find it only works in IE myself :)
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 12:20:20
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:04:40
i live in a flat and my niegbours upstairs have been banging around and hammering. bit of a long shot but do you think they've nicked a wire somewhere?

It's always possible, or someone is using an appliance which is electrically noisy. What are your router stats like?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:22:30
the same as i posted in the other thread that you mentioned were good. i'll have to find them.

oh and i used firefox for that test. if its still a problem later i'll give it a go in IE.  :)
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:23:14
same as these

QuotePort      Status      TxPkts      RxPkts      Collisions      Tx B/s      Rx B/s      Up Time
WAN    PPPoA    104    101    0    175    434    00:01:13
LAN    10M/100M    599    818    0    2346    1180    00:01:41

ADSL Link    Downstream    Upstream
Connection Speed    8128 kbps    832 kbps
Line Attenuation    20 db    5.5 db
Noise Margin    12 db    9 db
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 12:26:38
Nothing wrong with those. If it continues, have a word with IDNet. The only things I can think of are exchange congestion or significant noise causing lots of re-sends.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:29:28
it happend after i took the chrimbo tree down. maybe its sad  ;D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 12:30:59
Could you have disturbed anything in the process. I'm just wndering if you had a low sync event and your profile hasn't recovered?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:39:49
i don't think so. unpluged an adapter but don't think anyhting was disturbed. my comp is in my bedroom and the phone wire starts right from there.  ???
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 12:42:00
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:39:49
i don't think so. unpluged an adapter but don't think anyhting was disturbed. my comp is in my bedroom and the phone wire starts right from there.  ???
can you try a BT speed test in IE? And do you have the latest version of the Java runtime as well since it uses that.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 12:45:45
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:39:49
i don't think so. unpluged an adapter but don't think anyhting was disturbed. my comp is in my bedroom and the phone wire starts right from there.  ???

What Gary said - a BT test would help a lot right now.

I'm just wondering whether you could have disturbed any electrical connections, sufficient to cause a noise storm?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 03, 2008, 12:54:04
ok cool guys, like i say i'm at work at the mo so i'll post some stats later. thanks for you time  ;D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 13:22:10
So as a BT speed test has been recommended to Monkey can I take it that BT's test is generally thought to be the most reliable?
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 03, 2008, 13:44:17
Quote from: Noreen on Jan 03, 2008, 13:22:10
So as a BT speed test has been recommended to Monkey can I take it that BT's test is generally thought to be the most reliable?
Since its the stats from this that you give to your ISP I think its probably the best one to use Noreen
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 03, 2008, 14:33:09
Based on my own use, Noreen, I'd say it was the most consistent and accurate, plus as Gary says, it's the critical one when talking to an ISP. The profile often explains any issues with speed, which is why we ask people to do a BT test if they have a throughout problem.
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 04, 2008, 12:54:39
tried using IE last night but it said java plugin wasn't installed which is a dirty lie!!  ::)

will try again but it does look like my internet is running a bit more smoother. would still like to test it though. just in case  ;)
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 04, 2008, 12:55:51
The most accurate speed test is still a download from a 'known good' server, with a stopwatch in your hand. :)
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Gary on Jan 04, 2008, 13:13:29
Quote from: TheMonkey on Jan 04, 2008, 12:54:39
tried using IE last night but it said java plugin wasn't installed which is a dirty lie!!  ::)

will try again but it does look like my internet is running a bit more smoother. would still like to test it though. just in case  ;)
might be worth reinstalling your java plugin, or checking its listed in IE's advanced tab :-\
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: TheMonkey on Jan 04, 2008, 13:55:47
i did reinstall it but still no joy. may have a play round later. at work again now so back to the drawingboard tonight  :D
Title: Re: ThinkBroadband speed test
Post by: Rik on Jan 04, 2008, 14:44:01
That may be your problem. The best time to get a successful BT test is early morning, unfortunately. :(